Containers



March 24, 1959 s. w. com-MAN, JR 2,878,348

CONTAINERS Filed July 27, 1953 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 24, 1959 B. w. coLTMAN, JR

'CONTAINERS Filled July 27, 1955 Z-Sheets-Sneet 2 .l uw' 11" 'IVIIIl till) Z IWW lllllys" IIII Y 2,818,848 j ,Patentedl Msaat,l 1959 CONTAINERS Bertram W. Coltman, Ir., Kenilworth, Ill., assignor to Republic Molding Corporation, Chicago, lll., a corporation of Illinois Application July 27, 1953, Serial No. 370,421

4 Claims. (Cl. 15o-0.5)

The present invention relates to containers for the storage of food and the like and closures for such containers, and has particular reference to a structure` wherein the closure engages the container hermetically to seal the same and yet permit quick removal and replacing of the closure without damage either to the container and enclosure or to the contents in the container.

In the plastic container art where either the container or the cover, or both, are made of a relatively exible type of plastic material, like polyethylene for example, it is a diiiicult problem to provide a satisfactory seal be-v tween the larger sizes of containers and covers. smaller containers such as bottles, etc., where the opening for the closure is small, the area to be covered by the closure means of larger containers will not readily admit of a structure that will lend support for and hold the cover in place. In certain instances, frictionally tting covers have been used, but the difliculty with them has been to obtain the proper iit in order to maintain a tight seal. In many instances, the covers will tend to displace. themselves while the containers are in use. This is .par-

. 2 surfaces or faces on the container and cover that cause the rib to lie tightly against the upper face of the groove in the container.

In order to apprise those skilled in the art how to construct and practice my invention, I shall now describe a preferred embodiment of the same taken in con-` nection with the accompanying drawings which form a part thereof. l

In the drawings: 1 v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of container and closure means of considerable diameter embodyingYr the present invention; y

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the same and illustrating the cover in detached position; ,l Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view. illustrating the positive locking means employed;

Unlike Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing one way ofremoving the cover from the container; Fig. 5 is a top plan view with a portion of the cover broken away to illustrate a different shape and type of container embodying the invention; v

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of one end kof this container to show a way of removing the cover therefrom; f v

Fig. 7 is an end view of the container and cover shown in Fig. 5, but with a portion broken away and the remain-` ing portion shown in section; and K- Fig. 8 is a partial detail view in elevation and in sectionL to illustrate how the cover fits upon the container body.

The container illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises a circular body 5 provided with a side wall 6 ,and aA ticularly true if the containers are used in low temperwill not only provide a hermetical seal at all times, but A assures the retention of the closure means in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved container and closure means of this type which includes a positive locking action between the container and closure means that holds the cover tightly in position and preferably requires exingof either the cover or the container, or both, tofree the cover.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedcontainer and closure means of this type which is simple, eflicient and easy to handle. Although the cover will hold itself with considerable tenacityv upon the` container and maintain the hermetical seal, it may be easily removed, and without the use of tools, by a mere distortion of the exible part, whether the container, cover or both. The parts are purposely designed to permit this ilexing to free the positive locking action when the exing is performed in a manner which normally does not occur in the handling or use of the container. Accidental displacement of the cover from the container will therefore not readily occur.

In one form of the invention a container is provided with a groove or the like on its inside'face at a predetermined distance from its outer edge. The cover is provided with a ange having a laterally projecting rib spaced at,a distance on the ange so that when the cover is in position on the container, the ange brings the rib into engagement in the groove by a denite mechanical inter-r lock, the rib having a greater outer dimension than the inner dimension of the container whereby when the rib is. forced into the groove the cover cannot be removed. A hermetical seal may be obtained by providing abutting base 7. The material may be any suitable plastic, vorit may be a iiexible material that will yield slightly when pressure is applied to side wall 6. Closure means in the.

lform of cover 8 may also be of a suitable plastic or-a hexible material thatwill yield slightly when pressure is applied thereto.l It will be apparent from the structure disclosed that either body 5 or cover 8 may be of relatively rigid material if the other member is of a exible character, the purpose being to ex at least one of these, parts to permit the cover to be seated and provide and maintain a vapor-tight seal or to permit the cover to be removed.

This kstructure preferably comprises adownwardly or inwardly projecting flange 9 extending from the under face of cover 8 and a rib 10 extending from this flange 9. A groove 11 is formed about the inside face 12 of body 5 to receive rib 10. It will be observed that it is desirable to provide distance a marked in Fig. 2 on body 5 about equal to the distance b on the clover 8, this distance `a representing the depth or distance of wall 13 extending from top edge 14 down to the corner edge 15 of the upper face 16 of groove 11. Distance b represents the depth or distance of the upper face 17 of rib 10 to the under face 18 of the edge flange 19 of cover 8. Thus, when rib 10 is seated in groovev 11, face 18 of'cover edge flange 19 is pulled tightly against the upper surface 20 of wall 6 and a vapor-tight seal is formed between body 5 and cover 8.

It will be observed in Fig. 3 that the thickness or depth represented at 21 of rib 10 need not be the depth of groove 11, it being desirable in this connection that rib 10 should t tightly against the upper face of this groove to obtain this vapor-tight seal and hold the cover in' place.

against upper yface 20 of wall 6. action of rib 10 against upper face 16 and cover ange 19 against upper face 20 that holds the cover tightly in,y

position and assures a vapor-tight hermetical seal. t

To withdraw rib 10`from groove 11, one oi two oper- Y 3 ations' should take place. Either the body 5 should be exed to allow its groove 11 to displace rib 10v therefrom or the cover should be flexed to ilex rib 10 out of groove 1.1.. The easiest and suitable action. for the Asize and. shane of @entamer shown in Fis- 1; is illustrated in Fig. 4 where it is shown that the overhanging cover stief? tiene@ 1.9 may be gently pressed at. Say. two points t0. CWS@ the Cover to bow'steiently to eX this rib 1.0. and eause. it to be lifted out of groove 1t. Although a flireet upward 121.111.111 the. dreetionl of they arrow, shown in Fig.` 3, on this overhanging cover ilahge 1,9 will not release the cover, a slight downwardwsidewise pressure spelled, against the Qverhagaing portion of flangev 19 Will. flex; flange, 9 and rib 1,0 and. cause this rib 10 to be tlexed'out' of groove 11.

rI `he container shown in. ligs. 1 to 14,v inclusive, is intended for the storage of pies, cookies, biscuits, and many other edibles, and where this storage isI for freezer use and low temperatures' are encountered, the material welll suited for the purpose may be ex-ible, non-toxic and odorless plastic known generally in the trade as polyethylene. Other materials may, of` course, be used as longtas the present locking action between the cover andf'container is presentor the structure disclosed herein is employed.

YA different form of, container employingn the invention is illustrated in Figs. to 8, inclusive. Instead`v of the container being circular as in Figs. l to 4, inclusive,l the container in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, is rectangular. Body 25` is of considerable depth, relatively speaking, as when compared to the container shownY in Fig. 1', and cover 26 is raiseda distance above, the line of separation between the body andA the cover, However-, cover 26y is providedL with adownwardly projecting tlangel 27 which also has a rib 2,3V like rib Illfon flange4 9. Body 25 isl furnished with a groove. 2,9 into which rib 28 tits. in; a vapor-tight sealing` relation. It, will be observed that the' thickness of vertical wall 30 of body 25 may be increased slightly andmay have a4 horizontal ledge or flange 3 1' extending outwardly therefrom,

Cover 26- is also provided-with a similar ledge or flange 32 so that the ilat faces of these flanges may lie tightly against each other when rib 28 is in groove 29: rlfhe raised portion 34 of' the cover is increased in thickness at tlange 32; It will be observed that there is considerable distance between opposing side walls of both the body, 25 and the cover 26. The arrangement of'l flangeV 27- and` rib 28' locking in groove 29, together with flangesv 31 and' 32; abuttingeach otherv at the line of separation, very uniquely keeps the cover 2 6 in position upon bodyv 25 and provides a tight` closureY that` effects a yapor-tight; seal,

Ifr the cover 2d is the part made oftlexiblel material, such as polyethylene or theglike, Fig. 6 illustrates how the cover` 26V may be easily removed:k by applying pressuret. inwardly against the sides near one ofthe endsof the container, Ifn` the body vpart is made of" flexible material instead, the same action wouldv free the body fromy theY cover. It is understood, of course, that it is desirable to make both parts of polyethylene because this-material is particularly suitable for use in food containers, although its flexibility increases the difficulty ofv and further causes the two flanges-:31'V and 32Y to'` bel pulled and heldtightly together, Thisalsotenls to add to the rigidity of the cover and body structure along thc line of' closure and to keep the cover 26 in position on body 25.

It will be understood that a reversal of the parts between the body and the cover will produce substantially the same results and to this extent it is intended that this reversal of parts is to come within the scope of the invention herein disclosed.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fullyy explain the. character of my invention that others may, by applyingy current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under varying conditions of service, without eliminating certain features, which may properly be said to constitute the essential items of novelty involved, which items are intended to be deilnedvand secured to me by the following claims.

I claim:

l. A flexible plastic container and` cover therefor, said container andI said cover having such local flexibility relative to each other that the contour of either at a local portion may be changed relative to the other by the flexing of .either or both of said parts, a peripheral flange on said cover seated upon an abutting face on said container when said cover is in position to close said container, and means, to lock said cover in closed position on, said container against displacement by an outward pull or force against said cover, said' means being releasable to free said cover by a relative flexing movement changing the contour locally of one of said parts, said means including a laterally extending substantially continuous rib on said cover and a substantially continuous groove in said container to receive said rib, the distance between the upper edge of said groove and said abutting face on said' container bearing a direct relation with the distance between said rib and said peripheral flange on said cover.

2, A container, having a base with upstandng side wall structureV and a peripheral top face, andv a cover of relatively exible plastic material provided with` an edge ange resting upon said'A top face of said upstandingI side wallstructure and` projecting therebeyond and removable from the container'by pressure being applied to said projecting edge llange without appreciable distortion of" said upstanding side wall structure, and means to lock said coverY in position and provide a tight fit and a vapor tight seal comprising a depending flange on said cover spaced inwardly from said' projecting edge flange and extending intosaid container, a laterally extending substantially continuous-ribon saidgdepending flange, there being a substantially-continuous groove in said upstandingA side wall structure to receive said rib, said groove being spaced from` the top edge off said side wall structure a distance to hold said cover tightly upon, the said top face of said side Wall structure against displacement by, an upward pull when said rib is in said. groove, the flexing of said projecting edgeflange of said'cover freeing said cover by dislodging-said rib from said groove without appreciable distortion of `saidside wall structure.

3'.' A' container havingr'a base and upstanding side wall structure, with a peripheral', top face and of relatively ilexibleplastic.material, a. cover provided with an edge langerestingupon saicl4 top.l face of said upstanding side walhstructure, and means. to lock said cover, in position and provide a tight tit comprisinga depending flange on saidj coverv spacedy inwardly from said edge flange and extending into said containcnla; laterally extending substantiallycontinuous.rib on-.said depending flange, there being a substantially continuous groove in said upstanding sidewall structureto receive said rib, said groovebeing spacedffrom the topaedgeof'said: sidewall structure a distanceto-holdv saidcover-tightlyupon the said top face of=said side wall st ructureagainstA displacement by an upward pull 4on the cover when said rib is in said groove, saidgrib beingnreleasable from said groove to free said cover by a flexing of a local portion of said side Wall structure without appreciable distortion of said container.

4. A container having a base and upstanding side wall structure with a peripheral top face and of relatively llexible plastic material, a cover provided with an edge ange resting upon said top face of said upstanding side wall structure, and means to lock said cover in position against displacement by an upward pull thereon and provide a tight t comprising a depending ange on said cover spaced inwardly from said edge ange and extending into said container, ya substantially continuous laterally extending rib on said depending ange, there being a substantially continuous groove in said opstanding side wall structure to receive said rib to hold said cover tightly upon said top face of said side walls against an upward pull applied to said edge flange of said cover when said rib is in said groove, said rib being releasable from said groove to free said cover by a flexing of a local portion of said side wall structure without appreciable distortion of said container.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 905,212 Morrell Dec. 1, 1908 2,082,614 Brodrick 'June 1, 1937 2,487,400 Tupper Nov. 8, 1949 2,504,850 Lermer Apr. 18, 1950 2,567,322 Curtis Sept. 11, 1951 2,628,264 Esher Feb. 10, 1953 2,679,878 Stine June 1, 1954 2,695,645 Tupper Nov. 30, 1954 2,706,065 Stone Apr. 12, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,1 Great Britain Ian. 5, 1914 

